Lumber and timber marking machine



LUMBER AND TIMBER MARKING MACHINE Original Filed June 50. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l EFF! - In v fI/J [TIER/YE? J. G. MCDONOUGH' 1,715,206

May 28, 1929, J. G. M DONOUGH LUMBER AND TIMBERMARKING MACHINE Original Filed June 30 1922 w v a LUMBER AND TIMBER MARKING MACHINE Original Filed June so. 1922 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH G. MCDONOUGH, F EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN.

LUMBER AND TIMBER MARKING MACHINE.

Application filed June 30, 1922, Serial No. 571,890. Renewed December 12, 1927.

l The object of my invention is to provide means for marking or identifying pieces of lumber or timber as they are unloaded from a wagon to a freight car or other conveyance.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists' generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the manner of using my invention, while lumber is being transferred from a wagon to a box car,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the marking machine and the apparatus on which it is mounted,

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view,

Figure t is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View of the marking device ready for use,

Figure 6 is a similar View, showing the die in the act of marking or identifying the lumber,

Figure 7 is a sectional view'on the line 7-7 of Figure 5,

In the drawing, 2 represents any suitable lumber wagon or conveyance on which the material to be marked is conveyed, 3 and 4 are forward and rear axles supportingathe marking apparatus and having suitable carrying wheels 5 an reach bars 6 between the forward and rear axles. 7 represents a frame adjustably supported on the reach bars 6 and 8 represents carrier belts passing over sheaves 9 mounted on the frame 7 on a shaft 10 and over pulleys 9 on a shaft 10". A motor 11 is supported on a platform 12 transversely of the reach bars and has a driving belt 13 from which a shaft and a pinion 14 is operated to drive a gear 15 upon a shaft 16 which in turn operates pulleys 17 around which the lower run or stretches of the belts 8 pass and from thence to pulleys 18 that are mounted in a sliding frame section 19 in which the pulleys 9 are also mounted, the adjustment of this frame section back and forth longitudinally increasing or decreasin the stretch or run of the belts over whic the lumber passes to the marking device.

By the adjustment of this section, the marking section may be drawn out to increase the length of the surfaces to which the lumber is delivered.

The framef7 is mounted on a rotating member 20 which has a central pivot or king bolt 21 on the platform'12, which has hori zontal transverse pivots 22 on the reach bars 6. Curved bars 23'are secured to the underside of the platform 12 and have holes 24 therein adapted to register with a similar hole in brackets 25 on the reach bars, and a rod 26 is fitted into these holes and locks the platform 12 against oscillation on its horizontal pivot. By removing this rod and tilting the platform, the carrier supporting bars 7 may be adjusted at any desired angle or inclination to the vertical. The rotation of the member 20 on the platform 12 allows the carrier supporting bars 7 to be swung horizontally and set at any desired angle. I In Figure 1, for instance, the apparatus is shown swung to a point diagonally on the supporting frame, so that .the discharge end of the carrier will be opposite or adjacent the opening 27 of the box car 28. This allows the lumber to be conveniently delivered into the box car atsuch an angle that the person standing in the car can easily seize the pieces of lumber or timber as they are delivered and pile them lengthwise on the floor of the car, as indicated in the drawing. I also prefer to provide an extension 29 for the frame bars '7 pivoted at 30 and having a sliding section. 31, the parts being united by means of a slot 32 and bolts 33. Legs 34 support the outer end of the section 31 and by moving-the section back and forth it may be readily adjusted for conveniently delivering the material into the door of the box car or at any other point, as may be desired. a

For the purpose of marking the lumber I provide a cylindrical die holder 35 supported in'one end of a lever 36 that is ivoted at 37.

This lever 36 is preferably orked or U- shaped in form, as indicated in Figure 2, and hasan arm 38 'CO1111GCt8d by acoiled spring 39' with thelower end of a lever 40 that is pivoted concentric with the lever 36 and has an arm 41 which normally projects into the path of the lumber 41 as it is car ried along by thecarrier belts.

A drum 42, secured to the die holder 35, is mounted on the lever 36 and has a cable 43 1provided with a weight 44 which normally ho ds the cylindrical die holder in its lowered or depressed position, against a stop 43, as indicated in Figure 5. When, how

. ever, the lumber contacts with the arm 41 and tilts it to the position shown in Figure 6,

the die carrier will be raised into contact with the underside of the lumber and being revolved thereby, until a stop 43 strikes against the arm 36, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6, the die 45 in the peripheral surface of said carrier will contact with the lumber and make an identifying mark or impression thereon. These stops 43*v and 43 "limit the rotation of the cylinder die holder 35 on its axis-one when the die holder contacts with the lumber and'is rotated thereby.

in one direction, and the other when the die holder is returned to its normal position by the pull of the weight 44 thereon A stop 46 limits the downward movement of the lever 36 and a lug 47 also limits the downward tilting movement of the lever 40, the

normal position being shown in Figure 5, ready for contact by the piece of lumber or timber. The stop 46 is mounted upon a suitable brace 46 and the stop 47 is preferably carried by the arm 38.

An electric heating means or cartridge 48 is mounted in thecarrie r 35 in position to heat the walls of the die and to prevent the accumulation of snow and ice thereon, when the. device is used out ofdoors in cold weather, thus insuring the placing of a le ible mark on the lumber or timber. An in roll 49 is mounted adjacent the die carrier 35 for contact with the die with each revolution of the carrier. Ialso prefer to provide a box 50near the carrier and inking roll having conductors 51 leading thereto and connected to electric heating coils 52 mounted in the box 50. These coils heat the air a ound the carrier and ink roll and prc vent them from becoming inoperative during cold or stormy weather.

With this apparatus, each piece of lumber or timber will have applied to its under surface an identifying mark or character, the

during this revolution the die will contact with the inking roll and be thoroughly inked to make an imprint or mark on the lumber surface.

I prefer also to provide rollers 41 carried by swinging arms 41 in position to ride upon the lumber and aid the feeding means by holding the lumber thereon. I also prefer to provide an adjustable extension 34 for the legs 34 to allow the extension 9 to be raised or lowered for convenience in loading the lumber.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lumber marking apparatus, comprising a frame, a. mounting p'ivpted on said frame and having a die beneati the lumber arranged to rise to mark a surface of the v lumber, a pivoted lever having a stop engagement with said mounting, and yieldable connections between the mounting and the lever.

2. A means for marking or identifying lumber or timber actuated by the movement of the lumber or timber for applying an identifying mark thereto, comprising a die and inking device mounted for relative movement, a support for said die, and a pivoted arm in the path of the lumber and having a yielding connection with said support.

3..A means for marking or identifying lumber or timbercomprising a tilting means adapted to be actuated by the movement of the lumber or timber, and a marking means yieldably connected with said tilting means for applying an identifying mark thereto from a pointbeneath the lumber.

4. A-means for, marking lumber or timber comprising an apparatus mounted for adjustment on horizontal and vertical piv-,

ots, and a die member actuated by the moving lumber for applying an identifying mark thereto.

5. Means for marking or identifying lumber, and actuated bythe movement of the lumber for applying an identifying mark thereto, comprising a die rockably mounted,

and an inking device cngageable by said dieduring rocking movement, and an arm positioned to be rocked by the lumber and having a yieldable connection with said die for moving it to lumber-engaging position.

6. A means for marking lumber or timber comprising a frame mounted to swing on a vertical pivot and tilt on av horizontal pivot. a lumber moving means mounted in said frame, a die for placing an identifying mark on the lumber, and a vehicle wherein said frame is supported. 7. An apparatus for marking lumber or timber comprising a frame, a lumber marking means mounted in said frame beneath the lumber and adapted to be actuated by the moving lumber for applying an identifying mark thereto, yielding means associated with said marking means for causing the latter to yieldingly engage the lumber and means for moving the lumber into engagement with said marking means, said marking means being adapted to mark only the forward portion of each piece of lumber. 4 8. A device of the class described,'comprising a pair offrames, upper and lower,

slidably connected, each frame having plural pairs of pulleys journaled thereon, and belts having their upper runs extending between, above and around the endmost pulleys, with sections of their lowest runs engaging around corresponding pairs of pulleys of respective frames, whereby the frames can be adjusted lengthwise while the belt remains in properly tensioned condition, and marking means arranged between the belts upon the upper frame.

9. A device of the class described, comprising means for feeding lumber, a die carrier member having stops for. limiting oscillation in forward and reverse directions, said member pivoted to move toward and away from the feeding means and work, a die projecting slightly beyond the periphery ofthe carrier, and a weight arranged to reversely rotate the carrier, whereby, upon engagement of the carrier periphery with the lumber, the carrier is frictionally rotated against the action of the weight, to cause the die to forcibly engage with the board, and whereby the board engages the surface of the carrier to hold the same against the action of theweight, with the die frictionally engaging the work while the remaining portion of the work is passing.

10. In a device of the class described, means for feeding lumber, a die carrier member having stops for limiting rotation in both directions, and pivoted for movement toward and away from the feeding means, a die carried by said member projecting radiall y slightly beyond the periphery thereof, and means for forcibly reversely rotating the carrier.

11. In a device of the class described, lumber feeding means, a mounting pivoted to rock and having a rotatable die carrying element having stops for limiting rotative movement in both directions, means for forcibly returning the element to one stop limit position after the stamping operation, means for-limiting movement of said mounting in a direction away from the feeding means, a pivoted lever having a portion initially in the path of the forwardly traveling lumber, and having a stop-engagement with said mounting when the same is engaging the limiting means, and yieldable connections between the mounting and iever, at that side of their pivots opposite the die carrying element, and lumber engaging portion of said lever.

12. In a device of the class described, him-- ber feeding means, amounting pivoted to rock and having a rotatable die carrying element having stops engageable with opposite side-s of said mounting, to limit forward and reverse movements, means for forcibly returning the element to one stop limit position after the stamping operation, a pivoted leverhaving a portion initially in the path of the forwardly traveling lumber, and having a stop engagement with said mounting when so disposed, and yieldable connections between the mounting and the lever, to permit the lumber engaging portion of said lever to move independently and ride against a face of the lumber, while at the same time yieldably actuating the mounting to press the die carrying element against the same face of the lumber.

13. Means for marking or identifying lumber or timber, comprising a die adapted to make a mark in or upon the surface of the lumber upon contact therewith, an oscillating lever supporting said die, an inking device positioned to ink said die, an arm extending vertically into the path of the lumber and having a direct connection with said lever for actuating it to move said die toward the lumber, said direct connection being adapted to yield upon contact of the lumber with said arm.

14. Means for marking and identifying lumber or timber, comprising a. die, an inking device therefor mounted for relative movement, means projecting into the path of the lumber for causing engagement of the die with said inking device and subsequent 1 contact with the surface to be marked and an electric heating device mounted adjacent said die and inking device for heating the air around them.

15. Means for identifying or marking lumber or timber, comprising a die adapted to make a mark in or upon the surface of the lumber upon contact therewith, an oscillating member supporting said die, an inking device positioned to ink said die, means extending into the path of the lumber and having a direct connect-ion with said oscillatlng member for actuating it to move said dle toward the lumber, said direct connection being adapted to yield upon contact of the lumber with said means.

16. Means for identifying or marking lumber or timber, comprising a die, an inkmg device therefor mounted for relative movement, means projecting into the path of the lumber for causing engagement of the die with said'inking device and subsequent contact with the surface to be marked, and a heating means mounted adjacent said die and inking device for heating the air around them.

17. An apparatus for marking or identifying lumber or timber that is being moved lengthwise or longitudinally, comprising a tilting marking means supported beneath the lumber or timber and adapted to be actuated by the longitudinal movement thereof, for applying an identifying mark to the lumber or timber, and an inking device for the marking means, said marking means being adapted to be relatively rotated by frictional enga-gement with the lumber to move it into contact with said inking device, said marking means being adapted to mark only the forward portion of each piece of lumber.

18. A lumber or timber marking apparatus, comprising means for moving the lumber or timber, a die, an inking device for inking said die, a lever supporting said die, and amember having a yielding connection with said lever and normally positioned in the path of the moving lumber, movement of said member by the lumber causing the die to be moved into marking engagement with a surface of the lumber.

19. A lumber or timber marking apparatus comprising means for moving the lumber or timber, a die, a tilting support therefor, a member having a relative movement with respect to said support and normally positioned in the path of the moving lumber and adapted to be actuated'thereby and to move the die into marking engagement with the lumber, and means for inking said die.

20. An apparatus for applying an identifying mark to moving lumber or timber, comprising a marking means located out of the path of the lumber, a device normally associated with said. inking means and nor mally positioned in the path of the lumber to be engaged and actuated thereby, whereby said marking means will engage and mark the lumber, said device having a relative movement with respect to said marking lneans.

21. An apparatus for applying an identifying mark to moving lumber or timber, comprising a die adaptedto oscillate on a horizontal axis, a lever supporting said die beneath the lumber and an arm projecting into the path of the moving lumber and connected with said lever to oscillate it. said arm and lever having a relative movement.

22. An apparatus for applying an identifying mark to moving lumber or timber, comprising a die located below the lumber and adapted to make amark in or upon a surface of the lumber passing, an oscillatable lever supporting said die, an inking device positioned toink said die, and an arm extending into the path of the lumber and having a yielding connection with said lever for actuating it to move said die into marking engagement with the lumber.

23. A means for marking or identifying lumber, comprising a tilting means adapted to be actuated by the movement of the lumber, a marking means movably connected with said tilting means and adapted to apply an identifying mark to the forward portion of each piece of lumber, and means for inking said marking means, said inking means being located beneath the line of travel of the moving lumber.

24. The combination with means for feeding lumber of varying lengths longitudinally, of a device for marking only the forward portion of each piece of lumber, said device including a die and means for inking said die, said inking means being located beneath the line of travel of the moving lumber, and means adapted to hold the lumber downwardly against the upward pressure exerted on the board by the marking device.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of June, 1922.

JOSEPH Gr. MbDONOUGH. 

